Write about the preparations made for the two 'Id prayers and say how they are performed.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 5(a) The prayers of the two 'Ids were made compulsory in the first year after migration. It is a sunna mu’kkadah as the Prophet (pbuh) always performed these prayers and ordered the men and women to go out and attend them.
2. 5(a) It is preferred to take a bath, perfume oneself and put on one's best clothes on the occasion for both 'Id's. It is sunna to eat an odd number of dates before going for salah on ‘id ul fitr whilst for ‘Id ul adha eating is delayed till after the 'Id prayers and then the believer may eat of his sacrifice, if he has sacrificed an animal. 'Id prayers can be performed in the mosque but it is preferred to perform it in a place outside the city or in an open ground. The Prophet (pbuh) would pray the two 'Id prayers on the outskirts of Madina, in fact he only offered I'd prayers once in his mosque when it was raining. It is recommended that women and children to also attend 'Id prayers.
3. 5(a) The time for 'Id prayers falls between fajr and dhuhr prayers. It is sunna to pray salat ul adha early to allow believers more time to perform their sacrifice. The 'Id prayer consists of two rak'ahs during which it is sunna to pronounce three takbirs in the first and three in the second rak'ah. However, some schools of thought stipulate the number of Takbir at 12.
4. 5(a) The first three takbirs are said after thana before starting Sura Fatiha and the three takbirs in the second rak'ah are said after the takbir made after completing the Sura read after Fatiha and before bowing down for rukku. One is to raise one's hands during each pronouncement of the takbir and bring them down and again raise them for takbir. There is no qada for 'Id prayers. The khutba also needs to be listened to.
5. 5(b) It could be said that every religion has its own days of festival and that the two 'Ids are Muslim festivals, which are days of rejoicing and celebration and remembrance of God for them. They mark two important events in the Islamic calendar, the completion of fasting during the month of Ramadan and the completion of hajj for the pilgrims and for the rest of the Muslim world it is a reminder of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son in the way of God and as a symbolic gesture Muslims sacrifice an animal for the sake of God thus reminding themselves that no sacrifice is too great in the way of God. It could also be said that both 'Ids are practical examples of brotherhood in which all Muslims irrespective of creed or colour participate and thus it brings the community together. The two ‘Ids give the Muslim community an opportunity to join in celebration, I'd fairs and parties strengthen ties of unity and eradicate differences, the rich give zakat and the meat of the animal they sacrifice on the two 'Ids respectively thus the poor in the community are helped and able to enjoy the two festivals. All valid responses should be credited.